Bernard King facts for kids
King with the Tennessee Volunteers c. 1976
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| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | December 4, 1956 Brooklyn, New York, U.S. |
| High school | Fort Hamilton (Brooklyn, New York) |
| Listed height | 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) |
| Listed weight | 205 lb (93 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College | Tennessee (1974–1977) |
| NBA Draft | 1977 / Round: 1 / Pick: 7th overall |
| Selected by the New York Nets | |
| Pro career | 1977–1993 |
| Career history | |
| 1977–1979 | New Jersey Nets |
| 1979–1980 | Utah Jazz |
| 1980–1982 | Golden State Warriors |
| 1982–1987 | New York Knicks |
| 1987–1991 | Washington Bullets |
| 1993 | New Jersey Nets |
| Career highlights and awards | |
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| Career NBA statistics | |
| Points | 19,655 (22.5 ppg) |
| Rebounds | 5,060 (5.8 rpg) |
| Assists | 2,863 (3.3 apg) |
Bernard King (born December 4, 1956) is a famous American former professional basketball player. He played as a small forward in the National Basketball Association (NBA). King played for 14 seasons with five different teams. These teams included the New Jersey Nets, Utah Jazz, Golden State Warriors, New York Knicks, and Washington Bullets.
King was a four-time NBA All-Star. He was also chosen for the All-NBA team four times. In the 1984–85 season, he led the entire NBA in scoring. Bernard King was honored by being inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2013. His younger brother, Albert, also played in the NBA.
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Bernard King's Early Life and College Career
Bernard King was born on December 4, 1956, in Brooklyn, New York. He learned to play basketball on the outdoor courts of Fort Hamilton, Brooklyn. These courts were close to Madison Square Garden. Playing outside helped him improve his game. It also gave him a way to escape from his daily life. King said the parks helped him focus on basketball. This taught him discipline and pushed him to be great.
King went to the University of Tennessee for college. He had a very successful time playing college basketball there. His college years prepared him for a professional career. In the 1977 NBA Draft, the New York Nets picked him as the seventh player overall.
Bernard King's NBA Journey
Starting with the New Jersey Nets
After college, the New York Nets drafted Bernard King. This happened in the 1977 NBA draft. A few months later, the team moved to New Jersey. They then became known as the New Jersey Nets.
In his first season, 1977–78, King set a team record. He scored 1,909 points, averaging 24.2 points per game. Because of his great play, he was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team. He finished third in the voting for NBA Rookie of the Year. Later, in the 1983–84 season, he scored 2,027 points. This earned him his first of two All-NBA First Team selections.
Short Time with Utah Jazz
King played for the Utah Jazz during the 1979–80 season. He played in 19 games for them. During this time, he averaged 9.3 points per game.
Playing for the Golden State Warriors
Before the 1980–81 season, King was traded to the Golden State Warriors. He played there for two years. In his first year, he averaged 21.9 points per game. He played alongside players like World B. Free. In his second year, he averaged 23.2 points per game. Just before the 1982–83 season, King was traded to the New York Knicks.
Star Player for the New York Knicks
On January 31, 1984, King made history. He scored 50 points in a game against the San Antonio Spurs. The very next night, he scored another 50 points against the Dallas Mavericks. This made him the first player since 1967 to score 50 points in two games in a row. He set a new scoring record at the Reunion Arena in Dallas.
On Christmas Day, 1984, King had an amazing game. He scored 60 points against the New Jersey Nets. He was only the tenth player in NBA history to score 60 or more points in one game. He had 40 points by halftime. He finished the game by making 19 of 30 shots.
Overcoming a Major Injury
At the peak of his career, King suffered a serious leg injury. This happened on March 23, 1985. He tore ligaments and other parts of his right knee. This type of injury was very hard to come back from. Many thought his career might be over. He missed the entire 1985–86 season.
King worked hard to recover from his injury. He trained away from the public eye. He returned to play, but the Knicks released him at the end of the 1987 season.
Success with the Washington Bullets
King joined the Washington Bullets for the 1987–88 season. He worked his way back to being a top scorer. That season, he teamed up with Moses Malone and Jeff Malone. This strong trio helped Washington make the playoffs. They lost a close series to the Detroit Pistons.
On November 3, 1990, King scored 44 points against Michael Jordan and the Bulls. This was his highest score since his big knee injury in 1985. On December 29, he scored a season-high 52 points against the Denver Nuggets. This was the most points a Washington player had scored since 1972. That season, King was chosen for his fourth All-Star team.
From 1989 to 1991, King averaged over 20 points per game. His scoring was best in 1991. He averaged 28.4 points per game at age 34. He scored more than 40 points in ten different games that season.
Final Stint with New Jersey Nets
After another knee injury, King took a break from basketball. He returned for 32 games with the New Jersey Nets in the 1992–93 season. However, his knee problems forced him to retire from the NBA for good.
Bernard King's Playing Style
Bernard King was 6 feet 7 inches tall and weighed 205 pounds. He was a very explosive and high-scoring small forward. He used his long arms and quick shot release to score many points. King was an amazing scorer. He led the NBA in scoring in the 1984–85 season. He averaged 32.9 points per game that year.
Bernard King's Career Achievements
Bernard King finished his career with 19,655 points in 874 games. This gave him an average of 22.5 points per game. When he retired, he was number 16 on the all-time NBA scoring list.
Awards and Special Recognition
At age 24, King won the NBA Comeback Player of the Year Award. This was for his great play in the 1980–1981 season with the Golden State Warriors. He averaged 21.9 points per game that year. This was a big improvement after playing only 19 games the season before.
On February 13, 2007, Bernard King's jersey number 53 was retired. This happened at the Thompson–Boling Arena in Knoxville, Tennessee. His number was the first jersey retired by the Tennessee Volunteers basketball team. Later, his former teammate Ernie Grunfeld also had his number retired. The Tennessee men's basketball team from the late 1970s was called the "Ernie and Bernie Show." Many people think this was a golden age for UT men's basketball.
During the 2006 NBA All-Star Game, TNT network experts chose Bernard King. They put him on a list called the "Next 10." This list named 10 unofficial additions to the NBA 50 Greatest Players list. This was to celebrate the NBA's 60th anniversary.
In 2013, Bernard King was elected into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. He joined other basketball legends like Rick Pitino and Gary Payton.
Life After Basketball
Broadcasting Career
Today, Bernard King works as a part-time broadcaster for NBA TV. He also works for the MSG Network. Sometimes, he fills in as a color commentator when Walt Frazier is away.
Acting Career
King also tried acting. He appeared in an episode of Miami Vice called "The Fix." He played Matt Ferguson, a basketball star. He also appeared in the 1979 movie Fast Break.
See also
- List of individual National Basketball Association scoring leaders by season
- List of National Basketball Association players with most points in a game
